Drape folding machines



Jan. 19, 1960 F. J. DI ToRRlcE DRAPE FOLDING MACHINES 2 Sheets-Sheet lFiled March 27, 1958 .wf hm QM Jan. 19, 1960 F. J. DI 'roRRlcE DRAPE:FOLDING MACHINES 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed March 27, 1958 w .rmt ww T om QWmmm United States Patent O 2,921,725 DRAPE FOLDING MACHINES Fred J. DiTorrice, Milwaukee, Wis.

Application March 27, 1958, Serial No. 724,454

2 Claims. (Cl. 223-30) This invention relates to -improvements in drapefolding machines, and more particularly to a novel drape folding machinehaving mechanical means for endwise removal of a folded and presseddrape or the like.

An object of the invention is to provide a device of the type which willcompress a drape into folds in multiples of ve.

Another object of the invention is to provide means for endwise removalof the drape in easy stages whereby paper wrappings may be applied atintervals on said folded drape while it is being removed from themachine.

Other and further objects of the invention will appear as thedescription proceeds, reference being had to the accompanying drawing,in which:

Fig. 1 is a plan View of a drape folding machine embodying theinvention.

Fig. 2 is la front view in elevation thereof.

Fig. 3 is a perspective View of the multiple plate iron used in aligningthe folds of a drape between the separated plates of the machine.

Fig. 4 is a vertical sectional View of the device.

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary view of the machine partly in section and partlyin elevation.

Fig. 6 is an inverted plan view of the machine.

Fig. 7 is a view partly in section and partly in elevation of a pair ofslip clutches.

Referring more particularly to the drawings the drape folding table 10has side elements 11 and 12, the end portions 13 and 14 and four legs15. A pair of angle members 16 and 17 surmount the side elements 11 and12 and angle members 18 and 19 traverse horizontally the ends of thetable 10. Three pairs of vertically spaced horizontally disposed rods 20cross the table 10 and are aixed to the side elements 11 and 12. Aplurality of traveler plates 21 are provided with vertically spacedapertures as at 22 and 23 receiving the rods 20. A plurality of coilsprings 24 are placed about the rods 20 to separate all the travellerplates 21. The coil springs 24 are tapered so that when compressedbetween neighboring traveller plates they will compress to the thicknessof the rod spring material.

The machine has a plurality of narrow elongated press plates 30,disposed horizontally and riveted as at 31 to the top of the travellerplates 21. In the form of the invention illustrated in the drawings, thepress plates 30 are twenty-six in number, and the first press platefrontally disposed on the table 10 is atlixed to the angle iron 16 andis stationary. The remaining press plates 30 are mounted on thetraveller plates 21 and every flfth traveller plate is attached to thelimiting chain 32 which limits the separating movement of the plates.Each fth trav- .Patented 19, 1960 ICC eller plate 30 has :alongitudinally disposed angle iron 33, the latter being affixed to therelated traveller plates 21. The limiting chain 32 -is connected to eachof the angle irons 33. Chains 35, 36, 37, 38 and 39 are each attached toseparate angle irons as shown in Fig. 6 of the drawings. The lastmentioned five chains pass over the rear sprockets 40 and the frontsprockets 41 which are provided with the slip clutches 42 on shaft 43which latter carries the driven sprocket 44 in mesh with the chain 45 onthe driving sprocket 46 of the gear reducer 47 connected with theelectric motor 48.

A channel table 50 mounted on legs 51 carries the metal channel 52 and asliding platform 53 movable on the tracks 54 and 55 and actuated by thechain 56 operable by the cog 57 on the shaft 58 of the electric motor59. The platform 53 has a plurality of pegs 54 mounted on its topsurface 55.

A Wooden shelf 56 surmounts the rear portion of the table 10.

In use, a drape 6i) is laid over the top of the table 10 and the edge ofthe drape closest to the operator is clamped to the stationary pressplate 61. The switch 62 has been utilized to place the press plates 30in open or spread position. The operator then tucks the drape 60 betweenthe succeeding press plates 30, and the plate iron 63 is used to makethe folds uniform `as to depth before the switch 62 is again used toforce the press plates together in folding the drape. The operator thenattaches a looped element to the left end of the folded drape andconnects the loop to one of the pegs 54. The switch 59A is utilized tomove the platform 53 to the left on the tracks 54 and 55, thus drawingthe drape endwise from the press plates 30 after they have been againplaced in spread position.

It will be understood that the device is capable of many modificationsin structure and design, without departing from the spirit of theinvention, Within the scope of the appended claims.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed and desired to besecured by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. A drape folding apparatus comprising a rectangular frame, a pluralityof vertically spaced pairs of rods disposed transversely in said frame,a plurality of vertically disposed traveller plates having verticallyspaced apertures receiving said rods for sliding movement thereon, aplurality of relatively narrow elongated press plates each mounted onedge on at least two of said traveller plates, a plurality of sprocketwheels rotatably mounted on each side of the frame, and endless chainmeans on said sprocket wheels connected to certain of said travellerplates for movement of the latter during the folding operation.

2. The structure as in claim l, and conical coil springs on the rods`between all adjoining faces of all traveller plates to normallyuniformly space the latter.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS2,481,049 Stamm et al Sept. 6, 1949 2,708,059 Petzal et al May l0, 19552,817,468 Brown Dec. 24, 1957 2,837,257 Gibson et al lune 3, 19582,850,218 Gibson et al Sept. 2, 1958

